Evolution Questions

What is evolution?

• The process by which natural selection occurs

• The change in the heritable characteristics of a population over time

• The improvement of a species

Evolution states that all living organisms descended from a single common ancestor.

• True

• False

Charles Darwin is well known for his theory of evolution by natural selection, but this theory was actually independently discovered by another scientist around the same time. What is the name of that person?

• Alfred Wallace

• Gregor Mendel

• Albert Einstein

While on the Galapagos islands, Darwin observed variety in one type of animal that was later used to help him form his theory of natural selection. Which type of animal was this?

• Finches

• Giant turtles

• Bananas

What is one cause for genetic variation between individuals of the same species?

• Inheritance from parents

• Mutations in DNA

• Both the Above

Natural selection can also be described as "Survival of the (a)   ". What is the missing word?

• strongest

• fittest

• fastest

Which type of phenotypic variation can be seen in the beetle population shown above? (Mark only one oval.)

• Size

• Coloration

• Number of legs

Over time, natural selection causes the beetle population to evolve. If the environment in which they are living is stable (i.e. the leaves stay the same), which variety of beetle would you expect to become more common in the population?

• Variety A

• Variety B

A characteristic that enables an organism to survive in its environment is called a/an (a)   . What is the missing word?

• Fossil

• Adaptation

• Offspring

TRUE or FALSE: Natural selection cannot act upon a population of clones.

• True

• False